Enliven: Clinical Ophthalmology Research

This is a concise overview in a table format for the current non-profit membership-based ophthalmological societies in USA. These societies played a major role in continuous medical education. There is a clear need for establishing more societies which focus on different aspect of ophthalmology. There is always a potential for improving the benefits of these societies to the professionals and to the public. Social media might be utilized in achieving some of the functions of these societies.

Keywords

Education; Ophthalmology; Society

Ophthalmology in USA has very deep roots [1]. In 1864, the American Ophthalmological Society was established as the first medical specialty organization in the United States, and is the second oldest specialty society in the world and in 1917 ophthalmology became the first branch of medicine to develop specialty board examinations.

Currently, there are several professional ophthalmological societies in USA [2-9]. These organizations are making great contributions to the advancement of ophthalmology. Publishing periodicals and guidelines of care, arranging conferences and supporting researches are just few benefits to names. Just as an example, in 1986, the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) developed national guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of major eye disease [2].

In Table 1, I listed selected professional ophthalmological societies in USA.

Many of these organizations fall under 501(c) organization, also known colloquially as a 501(c), which are a tax-exempt nonprofit organizations in the United States.

American Academy of Ophthalmology is the largest national membership association of Eye M.D.s. More than 90 percent of practicing U.S. Eye M.D.s is Academy members.

Many of ophthalmological societies in USA serve a given city or state. But there are societies which focus on particular field for interested professionals in USA and abroad.

There are also societies with a wider range of coverage. For example, Pacific Coast Oto-Ophthalmological Society is formed by members from predominately the thirteen western states.

It is noticeable that there is a link between ophthalmology and otolaryngology in regards to the formation of many professional societies in USA. For examples, Houston Ophthalmological Society was formed in 1957 as a result of the division of the former Houston Ophthalmological and Otolaryngological Society. This decision to split was made twenty-one years before the American Academy of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology made a similar decision.

Ophthalmological society in Iowa started in 1961 as the Iowa Academy of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology. In 1989, the IAO incorporated as the Iowa Academy of Ophthalmology. Similar thing in Virginia, it was originally chartered as the Virginia Society of Ophthalmology & Otolaryngology in 1920, then , the Virginia Society of Ophthalmology was incorporated in 1983. In 2009, the membership voted to change its name to the Virginia Society of Eye Physicians & Surgeons (VSEPS).

Another example is the Kansas City Society of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology which was founded in 1908, the first of the Kansas City area specialty medical societies.

The split from combined specialties societies sound very logic. Not to mention that creating a society on a focused field might be advantageous to its members. One of such societies in the subspecialties of ophthalmology is to AAPOS (American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus) which started as AAPO and in 1976; it changed its name to to AAPOS.

This manuscript is just an overview; however, there is an obvious need for more studies to evaluate the activities of these societies and to find a better ways for these societies to improve their performance.

Each society has to find the best tools to encourage all the members to be active. Duties should not be limited to the members in the leadership positions. Smart phones messages and Social media might be utilized in achieving some of the functions of these societies.

Women and young doctors, in particular, should find a place in the executive committees of these societies.

References

1. Truhlsen SM (1996) History of the Secretariats of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Ophthalmology 103: S153-S163.


2. Sommer A, Weiner JP, Gamble L (1990) Developing specialty-wide standards of practice: the experience of ophthalmology. QRB Qual Rev Bull 16: 65-70.


3. Bateman B, Silva E (2013) AAO Task Force on Genetic Testing. Ophthalmology 120: e72-e73.


4. Chiang MF, Boland MV, Margolis JW, Lum F, Abramoff MD, et al. (2008) Adoption and perceptions of electronic health record systems by ophthalmologists: an American Academy of Ophthalmology survey. Ophthalmology 115: 1591-1597.


5. Estes R, Estes D, West C, Zobal-Ratner J, Droster P, et al. (2007) The American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus workforce distribution project. J AAPOS 11: 325-329.


6. Nataloni R (1996) CDC and AAO offer guidance on safe surgery. J Ophthalmic Nurs Technol 15: 257-258.


7. Lucente FE (1997) The AAOO (American Academy of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology) centennial: using past achievements to address future challenges. Bull Am Coll Surg 82: 22-26.


8. Letocha CE (1996) The American Academy of Ophthalmology. Arch Ophthalmol 114: 1508-1509.


9. Newell FW (1989) The American Ophthalmological Society: the first 125 years. Trans Am Ophthalmol Soc 87: 47-56.